Your views sought on Dee Valley planning

The views of the public are being sought on new planning guidelines for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which includes Llangollen.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of Wales’ most treasured landscapes, and officers from Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham have joined together with the AONB Partnership to produce a new Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) note for proposed development in the area.

The purpose of the document is to ensure that new development is designed to fit in with the area to conserve and enhance its natural beauty for current and future generations.

The draft SPG was presented for public consultation commencing on November 20 and ending on January 29 next year.

There will be two drop in sessions, where planning officers will be available to answer questions, at Loggerheads Country Park (A494 Ruthin Road, Loggerheads, CH7 5LH).

These will be on Wednesday December  6, from 10am-2pm, and Thursday January 18, from 2pm-6pm.

The document can be viewed on each of the following websites and copies are also available at Denbighshire County Council libraries and one-stop-shops, at County Hall in Mold and at Contact Wrexham, 16 Lord Street, Wrexham, LL11 1LG:

• www.denbighshire.gov.uk;
• www.flintshire.gov.uk;
• www.wrexham.gov.uk;
• www.clwydianrangeanddeevalley.org.uk

If you wish to speak to a planning officer in Denbighshire, call 01824 706916, send an email to planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk, or meet them at the Council Offices in Denbigh (Caledfryn).

Comments should be forwarded to Flintshire County Council who are coordinating the consultation on behalf of the three Local Planning Authorities. They should be forwarded by 5.00pm on 29th January 2018 using one of the following methods:

• by e-mail to developmentplans@flintshire.gov.uk
• in writing to Flintshire County Council, Andrew Farrow, Chief Officer (Planning and Environment), County Hall, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 6NF

Another competition win for Llan Silver Band

* Members of the youth band who took first prize at Ruthin last Saturday. 

Llangollen Silver Band's youth section took first prize in section 6b at the North Wales Brass Band Association Contest held at Bryn Hyfryd School, Ruthin last Saturday. 

Beaumaris Intermediate Band took second place and Llandudno Youth Band were third. 

Llangollen's chosen test piece for the competition was Rufford Abbey by Drake Rimmer and the chosen hymn tune Fewster was their opener. 

For the third year running Llangollen also took best soloist prize, won this year by cornet player Taya Castley. 

The youth bBand are now  busy getting ready for their upcoming Christmas jobs, Friday December 22 being their last performance of the season and that is their own Sparkle and Shine Cracking Christmas Concert at the Town Hall where they will be performing along with the intermediate band and training band.

Backing small businesses on December 2

Businesses and shoppers in Llangollen are being reminded that they can take part in this year's Small Business Saturday.

The event, which will be held on December 2, Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.

The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.

On Small Business Saturday, customers across the U.K go out and support all types of small businesses, online, in offices and in stores.

Many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events and offering discounts.

Steam engine inches out onto Abbey Road

* The engine is backed carefully out into the road and traffic waits in both directions.

* 80072 is slowly inched around parked cars.

*

* The engine out on Abbey Road ready for the off.

Traffic in both directions on Abbey Road was held up for a short while earlier this afternoon when a heavy loader carrying a steam engines from Llangollen Railway had to inch its way onto the roadway.

Thanks to some skillful driving and the ability of the wagon to make some tight moves, BR Standard Four tank No. 80072 eventually made it to the A539 and its onward journey.  

Call goes out for eisteddfod competitors

* The Aeolian Choir of Oakwood University, California, celebrate victory at the eisteddfod.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is on the lookout for talented groups of singers, dancers and instrumentalists from across the globe to enter its competitions next year before the deadline of November 24.

The 2018 eisteddfod takes place from July 3-8 and successful entrants will compete for a range of prestigious titles including the Dance Champions of the World, International Acapella Group and the jewel in the crown of the festival, Choir of the World.

There are cash prizes of up to £6,000, international medals and opportunities for aspiring musical singers to win the chance of a lifetime to perform at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod in Australia.

The globally acclaimed Choir of the World competition is the grand finale to the festival, which determines the best overall choir of the event and has launched many an iconic career.

In 1955 the winning choir, from the town of Modena in Italy, included a young trainee teacher named, Luciano Pavarotti – the legendary tenor who, in 2005, added his name to the competition trophy in recognition of his appreciation of the festival and its influence on his career.

Applications for non-competitive acts are also open and community groups are being encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to perform on one of the eisteddfod’s international stages and experience the unique atmosphere of the festival. Closing date for this category is also on Friday November 24.

Eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies said: “Our competitions offer the opportunity for performers from across the globe to compete on an international stage alongside some of the world’s most talented musicians and dancers.

“With more than 20 categories to apply for there really is an opportunity for all types of performers, from all disciplines and of all ages to get involved.

“Every year we aim to extend our offer and both the Outstanding Conductor and International Acapella Group categories are exceptionally exciting additions to the syllabus. We’re looking forward to see this year’s applications.”

* For more information on all the competitions or to apply on the Eisteddfod competitors’ website visit: http://eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk/

To purchase tickets for the Llangollen International Eisteddfod or for more information visit: www.Llangollen.net

Early sighting of Santa on the river

* Santa waves to onlookers from his coracle on the Dee.

Santa has been seen out on the River Dee on the lead up to Llangollen Christmas Festival on Saturday November 25.

He was spotted at the Horseshoe Falls in a coracle.

“I thought that I’d use the river to get into Llangollen this year, the coracle was most enjoyable and
relaxing but a little slow.” Santa said.

He has also tried an inflatable with some of his elves (pictured below) but decided that experience was far too scary.

“I think I’ll stick with the sleigh and my reindeer,” Santa added, “it’s fast, manoeuvrable and
best of all magic.”

The Christmas Festival, which is expected to attract at least 2,000 people, will feature a parade,
street stalls, raffles, a grotto, an appearance by Llangollen Silver Band, and local choirs and
singers and the ceremonial switch-on of the Christmas lights.

This year the festival also features Llangollen Good Grub Club and an additional stage organised by Llangollen Woman’s Festival.

The big parade starts from Mill Street car park at 1pm and later Siôn Corn will be on hand to meet
young visitors in his grotto inside the Town Hall.

Entertainment will this year be centred on the steps of the library and tourist information centre as
well as the Town Hall and Market Street.

Proceeds from the event will once again be donated to Wales Air Ambulance.

Free after 3 parking for Christmas

Shoppers in Denbighshire will be getting a helping hand this festive period.

Denbighshire County Council is providing free car parking in all of its town centre car parks after 3pm from the end of November and throughout December.

Free After 3 aims to support Denbighshire’s town centres and encourage shoppers to take advantage of the wide range of traders on the county’s high streets.

The scheme provides free parking in all Council-operated pay and display car parks in town centres after 3pm every day between November 21 and December 31.

As well as offering free parking after 3pm, the Council is encouraging shoppers and businesses to take advantage of the #LoveLiveLocal campaign and share pictures of products, offers and deals available on the county’s high streets on social media.

To find a list of all the car parks included visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/parking

Car parks included in the scheme are Corwen, Green Lane; Denbigh, Vale St, Post Office Lane, Factory Ward and the Multi-Storey; Ruthin, Market Street, Dog Lane, Troed y Rhiw, Park Road, Rhos Street; Llangollen, Brook Street, East Street, Hall Street, Market Street, Mill Street, International Pavilion;  Prestatyn , Fern Avenue, Lower High Street, Kings Avenue, Railway Station; Rhuddlan, Parliament Street; St Asaph, Bowling Green; Rhyl , Morley Road, Morfa Hall (disabled bays), West Kinmel Street and Sky Tower.